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7 ways to make your home more energy efficient

Wed, 01 Jul 2009 21:34:13 GMT

Go greener this winter and save. This winter is the perfect time to go a little greener at home. Whether your home heating system runs on fuel oil, natural gas or electricity, your energy bills are expected to rise in the coming mon...

7 truths about the housing market

Wed, 01 Jul 2009 21:34:13 GMT

Perspective is important when it comes to real estate matters. Get the facts about the housing market. Studying today’s housing market is sort of like looking at an online map. Click the plus symbol, and you’ll zero in on all sorts of details you didn’t see before. Click the minus button, and you’ll n...

7 tips for selling your home in a down market

Wed, 01 Jul 2009 21:34:13 GMT

Increase your chances of selling your home in a slow real estate market. There are 4.5 million houses for sale in the U.S. today, compared to 3.6 million just two years ago. Some quick math might lead you to believe that’s nearly a million reasons not to put your house on...

7 things to look for in a REALTORS®

Wed, 01 Jul 2009 21:34:13 GMT

Some basic criteria can help you pick a winner. If picking a REALTOR® were a reality show, there probably would be no shortage of contestants. At last count, there were more than one million REALTORS® nationwide. Finding the one that bes...

7 steps to fall curb appeal

Wed, 01 Jul 2009 21:34:12 GMT

Outfit your house for autumn by increasing its curb appeal. In many parts of the country, autumn and its colorful display of foliage are eagerly awaited after a long, hot summer. But once those leaves have fallen, it can leave your house looking, well, a bit ...

7 steps to buying a vacation home

Wed, 01 Jul 2009 21:34:12 GMT

Turn second-home dreams into real estate reality. If you’ve already achieved the American dream of home ownership, chances are you’ve moved on to another popular real estate fantasy: a cabin in the woods, a cottage by the sea or, perhaps, a palazzo ...

7 smart renovation moves

Wed, 01 Jul 2009 21:34:12 GMT

Invest wisely in the house you have through renovation. When it comes to managing investments, everyone falls into three categories: buy, sell or hold. And, like many homeowners, market conditions may have you in the “hold” column for now on what is proba...

7 smart moves in today's housing market

Wed, 01 Jul 2009 21:34:12 GMT

Some smart real estate moves to make today; whether you plan to hold, fold or ante up in the near future. If real estate were a gambling game, then it would be correct to say that the market is wearing quite a poker face right now. There’s no doubt that sales have cooled since their red-hot highs of 2005...

7 rules for negotiating a Real Estate deal

Wed, 01 Jul 2009 21:34:12 GMT

If everyone plays nice, you can all end up happy. If negotiating a real estate deal were solely about price, it might be easy. But too often, people end up dickering over details. When will the deal close? Who will pay for which repairs? Does the sa...

7 red flags when house hunting

Wed, 01 Jul 2009 21:34:12 GMT

Buyer's market shoppers still need to be wary when house hunting. Timing is everything in real estate. So if you’re in the market for a house, congratulations. Real estate experts agree that many markets are in the midst of one of the strongest buyer’s markets in y...

7 reasons your home isn't selling

Wed, 01 Jul 2009 21:34:12 GMT

Having problems selling your home? Here's why those buyers aren't biting. With home sales slowing nationwide, most homeowners expect that they’ll have to wait a little longer to find a buyer than they would have even a year ago. But if that for-sale sign has been in the ya...

7 preparations for buying a house

Wed, 01 Jul 2009 21:34:11 GMT

Do your homework this winter for smoother spring shopping. It’s a rite of spring in the real estate industry: As the weather warms, the for-sale signs start sprouting like daffodils, and home buyers begin coming out of hibernation. If you’re one of those peo...

7 people to know in the real estate game

Wed, 01 Jul 2009 21:34:11 GMT

A few key players can help you build a winning real estate team. With all the ups and downs in the real estate market lately, buying or selling a home may be sounding less like a parlor game to you and more like a blood sport. But don’t be afraid: having a good te...

7 moving tips

Wed, 01 Jul 2009 21:34:11 GMT

Take the trauma out of moving. Moving, psychologists say, is the third most stressful event a person can endure, ranking just behind the death of a loved one and divorce on the angst-o-meter. If that’s true, then our collective te...

7 most profitable home renovations

Wed, 01 Jul 2009 21:34:11 GMT

Recoup all you can of your remodeling money. People are probably going to spend less money fixing up their homes this year, according to April 2008 report by Harvard University’s Joint Center for Housing Studies. But you didn’t need a bunch of ...

7 green building terms

Wed, 01 Jul 2009 21:34:11 GMT

Learn the language of the green building movement, a trend that's here to stay. The green building movement doesn’t seem so green anymore. What was once considered simply the newest environmentally friendly trend has matured into a respected way of thinking about how we construc...

7 foreclosure warning signs

Wed, 01 Jul 2009 21:34:11 GMT

Put your finances under the microscope. Spot foreclosure warning signs before it's too late. If you’ve scanned the business news recently, there’s no doubt you’ve heard reports of turmoil in the mortgage markets, along with lectures from a string of experts lining up to say “I told you so” t...

7 fast home fix-ups

Wed, 01 Jul 2009 21:34:11 GMT

Make your home a standout with sellers in minutes using our fast fix-ups. Good advice for today’s home sellers might sound a lot like something you’d say to a marathon runner: prepare as best you can in advance and, once you start, pace yourself and expect it to take a whi...

7 ways to shop smart for a car

Wed, 01 Jul 2009 21:33:29 GMT

Avoid potentially pricey potholes in your search for a new set of wheels. For many, the prospect of buying a new car can seem about as attractive as sitting in rush-hour traffic. But, getting from point A (no car) to point B (new car) doesn’t have to be a long, slow slog f...

7 tips for getting better gas mileage

Wed, 01 Jul 2009 21:33:29 GMT

Start saving on gas by letting up on that lead foot. With gas prices climbing faster than you can say “fill ‘er up”, getting better gas mileage is one sure way to keep a little more cash in your pockets. Here are some tried-and-true ways to lessen the ...

7 steps to buying a car

Wed, 01 Jul 2009 21:33:29 GMT

Don't toss reason out the window. Buying a new car can be an emotional road trip for just about anybody. Excitement and apprehension combine to wreak havoc with our rationality the moment we enter the showroom. But acting impulsively...

7 questions to ask when buying a used car

Wed, 01 Jul 2009 21:33:28 GMT

Be nosey before you purchase a previously owned auto. Everybody loves that new car smell, but is it worth paying thousands for? Buying a used rather than new car can be a smart move, saving you as much as 30 percent off the sticker price. But once you’v...

7 options for financing a new car

Wed, 01 Jul 2009 21:33:28 GMT

Before you pick manual or automatic, think loan or lease. If you’re thinking about buying a new car, you should know you have lots of options – and we don’t just mean leather or cloth seats and power or manual door locks. There are more ways than ever to fi...

7 money-saving car maintenance tips

Wed, 01 Jul 2009 21:33:28 GMT

Slow down your gas consumption by taking good care of your car's engine. When you’re filling up at the gas station, have you ever noticed how much faster the numbers that show how much you owe move than the numbers that show how much you’ve pumped? The “THIS SALE $” gauge...

7 mistakes when buying a car

Wed, 01 Jul 2009 21:33:28 GMT

Auto shopping errors can be costly. Why not learn from others' mistakes? Driving a new car can be nerve wracking. For those first few weeks on the road it seems you’re always aware that with one wrong turn of the steering wheel, one scratch or one spill, the pristine shee...

7 ways to graduate debt free

Wed, 01 Jul 2009 21:33:28 GMT

Don't weigh down your future by borrowing too much today. Learn how to graduate debt free. As a freshman, you start your college years with the aim of earning a paper-thin prize: a diploma. But too many students are graduating with the equivalent of a financial lead weight: a massive mound...

7 unconventional ways to pay for college

Wed, 01 Jul 2009 21:33:28 GMT

Get creative and you won't be hemorrhaging cash. So you weren’t lucky enough to be born into a fat college savings account, studious enough to land a big scholarship or poor enough to qualify for financial aid. The traditional methods for funding y...

7 tips for getting a student loan with a cosigner

Wed, 01 Jul 2009 21:33:28 GMT

In this market, you might need all the help you can get. When it comes to getting a student loan these days, you may want to consider using the buddy system. As credit markets have tightened many lenders are now requiring that borrowers without strong cred...

7 student loan strategies

Wed, 01 Jul 2009 21:33:28 GMT

And you thought getting into college was hard. Getting the right student loans to fund college can be just as difficult. Congratulations! You studied hard in high school, aced your entrance exams and padded your resume with all sorts of extracurriculars. Now you’re headed for college. But here comes the difficult part:...

7 financial tips for college freshmen

Wed, 01 Jul 2009 21:33:28 GMT

When it comes to money, here's how college freshmen can earn an A. By the time next June rolls around, the average freshmen entering college this fall will have racked up $20,000 in debt, with more than 15 percent of that owed to credit card companies, according to ...

7 credit lessons for college students

Wed, 01 Jul 2009 21:33:28 GMT

Use these four or five years as a student to build a strong credit record. Strip away all the extracurriculars, and college at its simplest is all about credit: Go to class, earn enough course credits and in four – or five or six – years you’ll have your degree. College is ...

7 borrowing tips for students

Wed, 01 Jul 2009 21:33:27 GMT

If you're going to be a borrower, be a smart one. “Neither a borrower nor a lender be” is a famous piece of fatherly advice that may sound familiar from your Intro to Shakespeare class. But for many of today’s college students, it’s just not realist...

7 ways to simplify your credit life

Wed, 01 Jul 2009 21:32:45 GMT

Clear out the financial clutter. Simplify your credit life. The urge to organize has given rise to an entire industry of professional “declutterers” all looking to help people defeat the disarray in their homes and offices, for a fee. If you’re finding that y...

7 ways to protect yourself from credit card fraud

Wed, 01 Jul 2009 21:32:45 GMT

Cut your risk of falling prey to credit card fraud by taking a few simple measures. Credit card fraud is a high stakes game. Last year alone, it’s estimated that crooks stole $3.2 billion from credit card holders and companies. There are lots of things you can do to fend off the fra...

7 ways to improve your credit score

Wed, 01 Jul 2009 21:32:45 GMT

Make sure your credit gets an A plus with our handy list of tips. Maybe you thought that with the toss of your cap on graduation day, you’d no longer have to worry about making good grades. But there’s one grade you need to be aware of throughout your financial lif...

7 steps to rebuilding your credit

Wed, 01 Jul 2009 21:32:45 GMT

It takes effort to repair a shattered credit record. Not paying a bill is the financial equivalent of breaking a mirror. But instead of seven years of bad luck, you get seven years with a ding on your credit record, making it potentially more expensive...

7 steps to a good credit score

Wed, 01 Jul 2009 21:32:45 GMT

These days, every point counts. If you’re assuming your credit score will qualify you for a good home loan, here’s something you should know: they’ve recently moved the goal line. Lenders are getting pickier about who they’ll loan ...

7 new credit scores rules

Wed, 01 Jul 2009 21:32:45 GMT

All bets are off in the credit game. Just when you thought you knew how to get the credit score you needed for the loan you want, the rules have been changed mid-game. It’s hard to keep up with all the recent changes in the way credit s...

7 games credit card companies play

Wed, 01 Jul 2009 21:32:45 GMT

Don't risk your credit rating. Learn to spot and avoid tricks used by credit card companies. Many credit card companies are looking to fatten your wallet – not necessarily with cash but with more cards – and they’ve got a whole deck of tricks up their sleeves to get you to sign up for their ...

7 credit card agreement terms defined

Wed, 01 Jul 2009 21:32:44 GMT

Avoid credit card confusion by learning the lingo. If you’re like most people, you rarely read any of those official-looking agreement notices sent to you by your credit card company. To do so would take a magnifying glass, a dictionary and several h...

7 ways to spring clean your finances

Wed, 01 Jul 2009 21:32:44 GMT

Dust off those cobwebs and give your finances a good annual cleaning. Your wallet will be glad you did. For a lot of people, reviewing their finances is right up there with dusting the mini-blinds, organizing the photographs and polishing the silver on the list of dreaded household chores. But as tempt...

7 ways to save on gas

Wed, 01 Jul 2009 21:32:44 GMT

Using less fuel is more lucrative than ever. Gas prices got you down? In an attempt to inject some humor into the current fuel fiasco, we’ve decided to adopt a look-on-the-bright-side approach to the soaring cost of driving your car. Don’t thin...

7 ways to save on back-to-school shopping

Wed, 01 Jul 2009 21:32:44 GMT

'Tis the second-biggest season for spending. For some retailers Christmas comes twice a year, and it’s going on now in shopping centers across the country, where parents and children are gearing up for back-to-school. The average family is expe...

7 ways to increase your green this St. Patrick's Day

Wed, 01 Jul 2009 21:32:44 GMT

Don't rely on the luck of the irish to improve your cash flow. Follow these steps to build your own pot of gold. Everyone hopes to catch a little “luck of the Irish” on St. Patrick’s Day, but it’s important to remember that piling up a pot of gold in the real world has little to do with leprechauns. The path to...

7 ways to beat inflation

Wed, 01 Jul 2009 21:32:44 GMT

It’s going to take some stretching to cover expenses. Managing your money these days may feel a little like putting on a pair of jeans that shrunk in the dryer. Suddenly, it seems there’s just not enough to cover everything. As you struggle to work with...

7 ways to avoid angering the IRS

Wed, 01 Jul 2009 21:32:43 GMT

Keep your tax return from catching an auditor's eye Don’t think of the IRS as your enemy. Think of it as a sleeping giant that you don’t want to awaken. The bureaucratic behemoth processes 220 million returns every year, and just 1.2 million – or less...

7 tips for holiday shoppers

Wed, 01 Jul 2009 21:32:43 GMT

It's a buyer's market in retail, not just real estate. A sagging housing market and a lingering credit crunch has economy watchers predicting a less-than-stellar holiday spending season this year. That may signal the coming of a blue Christmas for many r...

7 steps to financial independence

Wed, 01 Jul 2009 21:32:43 GMT

Consider the pursuit of fiscal freedom this July 4. Eleven score and 12 years ago, America’s forefathers declared that we all had the inalienable right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. And today, for a lot of people, a life of liberty an...

7 smart year-end tax tips

Wed, 01 Jul 2009 21:32:43 GMT

Get a head start on the next big season; tax season. Holiday shopping season seems to start right around Halloween these days, so why not get a similar jump on tax season? While it’s true that FSAs and 401(k)s aren’t as much fun as trees and tinsel, yo...

7 smart insurance strategies

Wed, 01 Jul 2009 21:32:43 GMT

Follow these strategies and come out a real winner in the insurance game. Insurance is kind of a lose-win, win-lose situation. You pay your premiums every term, and, generally, you don’t see a dime unless something terrible happens. You get sick, you crash your car, your h...

7 reasons to go home shopping this holiday season

Wed, 01 Jul 2009 21:32:43 GMT

Consider putting real estate on your wish list. It could be the fondest daydream of every holiday shopper: you show up at your local mall at the crack of dawn for an early bird, “door buster” sale, and you’re the only one at the door. For a few go...

7 New Year's resolutions for your wallet

Wed, 01 Jul 2009 21:32:43 GMT

It's a new year; a time for new beginnings and, of course, New Year's resolutions. Here are seven quick and easy resolutions to fatten your wallet in 2009. 1. I will resist the double mocha extra-large latte. You’ve heard this one before. But at upwards of $3.00 a pop, that daily latte habit is wreaking havoc on your wallet. If you want to improve your ...

7 money-saving summer travel tips

Wed, 01 Jul 2009 21:32:43 GMT

Roam, if you want to, in 2008. 2008 may just become known as the year of the “staycation.” The idea of vacationing in place during your time off from work or school has been around a while, but this summer, high gas prices, a weak...

7 money saving tips to get you through the summer

Wed, 01 Jul 2009 21:32:43 GMT

Sweating the small stuff can add up to big savings. Record gas and electricity prices may have you feeling like you’re headed for a budget meltdown this summer. But chill out: there are plenty of tricks to keep the warming trend from hitting your wall...

7 money problems, 7 easy solutions

Wed, 01 Jul 2009 21:32:43 GMT

Cash comes with its own troubles too. When you think of money problems, the most obvious one is easy: not having any. But even if you’ve got money, chances are you’ve got at least some money troubles. Having money comes with its own set ...

7 money issues that strain relationships

Wed, 01 Jul 2009 21:32:43 GMT

If you don't see eye-to-eye on these financial matters, it's time for a heart-to-heart with your partner. In the romantic haze of Valentine’s Day, money is probably the last thing on your mind. But study after study has shown that when the swoon of cupid’s arrow wears off, financial issues can burst just...

7 lessons to learn from today’s economy

Wed, 01 Jul 2009 21:32:43 GMT

There’s wisdom to be gleaned from hardship. Learn from today's economy. Some may call what we are currently experiencing an “economic downturn.” We like to look at it as a “teachable moment.” While the present situation may not be fun, there’s plenty we can learn from it...

7 last minute tax moves to keep Uncle Sam on your side

Wed, 01 Jul 2009 21:32:42 GMT

Don't take chances this tax season. Here are a few tips to avoid being audited. The IRS isn’t your enemy. Think of it more as a sleeping giant that you don’t want to awaken. The bureaucratic behemoth processes 220 million returns every year, and just 1.2 millio...

7 financial vows to make to your spouse

Wed, 01 Jul 2009 21:32:42 GMT

Marriage is the union of two hearts, minds and finances. Here are seven vows to help you walk down the aisle to marital - and financial - bliss. Marriage is the union of husband and wife in heart, body and mind, or at least that’s what it says in the classic wedding ceremony. But these days we know that marriage is also the melding of two peo...

7 financial lessons to teach your children

Wed, 01 Jul 2009 21:32:42 GMT

Moral of the story: Money management matters too. School’s out for summer, but that doesn’t mean your children need to go on a learning hiatus. Take advantage of summer vacation to teach your kids the ABCs and 123s of money management. That doesn’t ...

7 financial decisions fit for a fool

Wed, 01 Jul 2009 21:32:42 GMT

How you and your money could be parted. We like a good April Fool’s prank as much as anybody, but when it comes to personal finances, we don’t kid around. A lot of people are struggling economically right now -- some through no fault of th...

7 financial books that make cents

Wed, 01 Jul 2009 21:32:42 GMT

In honor of financial literacy month, we offer seven books that could set you on a path to financial success. A person with a PhD in economics might be able to calculate the gross domestic product of a third world nation or perform regression analysis on wage and productivity data, but Dr. Dollars may not kn...

7 dos and don'ts to protect yourself from identity theft

Wed, 01 Jul 2009 21:32:42 GMT

Protect your identity against theft with the following tips. Even if you’ve been on your best financial behavior for years -- paying your bills on time, saving regularly and borrowing wisely – you could have an evil twin who’s messing things up for you with un...

7 disadvantages of borrowing from your 401(k)

Wed, 01 Jul 2009 21:32:42 GMT

Borrowing from your 401(k) is a potentially perilous move, so tread carefully. It seems that some Americans have begun treating their 401(k) retirement accounts like goodie bags at a Halloween party. Last year alone, 18 percent borrowed from their 401(k) savings, according to t...

7 back-to-school shopping lessons

Wed, 01 Jul 2009 21:32:42 GMT

September is a great time to share back-to-school shopping wisdom with your kids.  Once kids hit school age, it seems that before you know it, they’re onto topics – logarithms, present participles, cell division -- that are over most parents’ heads. But there’s one subjec...

7 ways to choose a mortgage lender

Wed, 01 Jul 2009 21:31:35 GMT

How to tell if you're compatible with a mortgage lender It seems the art of finding a mate has been elevated to a science with the dawn of the Internet, which has spawned a plethora of matchmaking sites that promise to take your personal information, plug...

7 ways the fed rate cut affects you

Wed, 01 Jul 2009 21:31:35 GMT

Here's how to interpret the Fed's action. Wall Street types generally anticipate the Federal Reserve rate cut decision with the kind of fervor usually only seen in five-year-olds on Christmas Eve. But when cuts to the federal funds ...

7 tricks of the lending trade

Wed, 01 Jul 2009 21:31:35 GMT

Mortgage loan mysteries explained. Everyone loves a good mystery – especially around Halloween time -- but not necessarily when it comes to their mortgage. To many of us, the mortgage process is shrouded in mystery, with the mortgage ...

7 things you should know about your mortgage

Wed, 01 Jul 2009 21:31:35 GMT

Maximize the performance of your home loan vehicle. To many people, the best mortgage is like the ultimate low-maintenance automobile: with the exception of a little monthly upkeep, you shouldn’t have to think about it too much until you’re ready to g...

7 things to look for in your mortgage loan

Wed, 01 Jul 2009 21:31:35 GMT

You many know less than you think about your biggest financial commitment. Learn what to look for in a mortgage loan. Here’s one you can file in the “shocking, but not surprising” category: A 2007 government study found that 90 percent of people surveyed didn’t understand some basic mortgage agreement terms. It’s sh...

7 signs it's time to refinance

Wed, 01 Jul 2009 21:31:35 GMT

Your mortgage isn't a one-shot deal. Here's how to know if you'll benefit from refinancing. Sometimes in life, you just want a do-over. And that’s true even when it comes to your home mortgage. A few years into your 30-year commitment, and you’re itching to change the interest rate, term or...

7 reasons to shop around for a mortgage

Wed, 01 Jul 2009 21:31:35 GMT

It pays to peruse your options. Shop around and save. You wouldn’t buy a house without shopping around first, right? Then why would you commit to the loan you use to buy that house without making sure you’re getting the best deal possible? It’s easier t...

7 reasons to consider refinancing your ARM

Wed, 01 Jul 2009 21:31:35 GMT

Here's a list of reasons you should consider refinancing your ARM. Listening to the concerns about impending problems for adjustable rate mortgage holders, one might get the impression that anyone with an adjustable rate mortgage (ARM) is about to lose a limb. It is...

7 questions to ask when refinancing your mortgage

Wed, 01 Jul 2009 21:31:35 GMT

Would refinancing benefit you? Ask these questions and see. If you hang around in certain circles long enough, eventually you’ll hear someone talking about their “refi.” Not to be confused with Wi-Fi or a Hi-Fi, it’s a refinancing of your mortgage. And as int...

7 mortgage terms translated

Wed, 01 Jul 2009 21:31:35 GMT

If you're looking for a mortgage you need to know how to walk the walk and talk the talk. Here are seven mortgage terms translated into plain English. Finding the right mortgage can be a bit like visiting a foreign country where you don’t know the language. Nobody is born knowing the difference between an APR and an interest rate. So don’t be asham...

7 mortgage terms a borrower must know

Wed, 01 Jul 2009 21:31:35 GMT

Getting lost in translation could cost you. If you don’t know the language, choosing a loan can be sort of like ordering dinner off the menu in a foreign country. Misunderstand a few words, and you could end up with something awful on your pla...

7 mortgage myths

Wed, 01 Jul 2009 21:31:34 GMT

Here's help sorting the facts from myths when it comes to mortgages. If you swallow chewing gum, it will sit in your stomach for seven years before it’s digested. If you cross your eyes, they could get stuck that way. These are myths that – though proven fals...

7 key players in the mortgage market

Wed, 01 Jul 2009 21:31:34 GMT

Who’s who in home loans and the mortgage market. We like to think that we’ve made the home loan process so simple that you could easily get a mortgage and make payments on it for 30 years without having much of a clue as to where the money came fro...

7 home equity rules to live by

Wed, 01 Jul 2009 21:31:34 GMT

Don't forget these common sense home equity borrowing guidelines. Things may seem like they’re changing rapidly in the home equity loan market, but the basic rules for borrowing against the value of your home are still the same. In recent years, some people seem to...